Water – Global South Policy Review

Groundwater Extraction Moved Earth’s Axis- Tubewells Changed The Planet

Anthony Acciavatti

Excessive groundwater extraction—over 2,100 gigatons between 1993 and 2010—has shifted Earth’s axis by nearly 80 cm and contributed to rising sea levels. This human-driven change outweighs the impact of melting ice sheets on polar motion. Major contributors include western North America and northwestern India. While the tilt won’t affect seasons, it reveals how over-pumping groundwater can destabilize the planet, emphasizing the need for sustainable water use.

Bengaluru’s water crisis deepens: Citizen-led NGO Paani.Earth urges Greater Bengaluru Authority to embrace river-centric planning

Sanjana Shashidhar

Bengaluru is facing a worsening water crisis due to rapid urbanization, groundwater overuse, and neglected water bodies. The citizen-led NGO Paani.Earth is urging the new Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to adopt river-centric, watershed-based urban planning. Their initiative emphasizes integrating natural water systems into city development. While the GBA offers hope for better coordination, its success depends on prioritizing sustainable infrastructure and protecting Bengaluru’s vital lakes and rivers.

‘Indus Waters Treaty needs a rethink’: Country’s top glaciologist warns of shrinking Indian share in river flows

Nikhil Ghanekar

India’s eastern Indus glaciers are melting faster than Pakistan’s and that will reduce water availability after mid-century, leading glaciologist at IISc Anil Kulkarni tells The Indian Express in an interview.

Anil Kulkarni points out that although the Indus Waters Treaty allocates 20% of the river flows to India, only about 5% of the glacier-stored water is in the eastern basins under India’s control, while 95% is in the western basins allocated to Pakistan. This disparity, coupled with accelerated glacier retreat due to climate change, could significantly impact India’s water share in the future.

A Map of India’s Most Remarkable Water Conservation Efforts: From Kashmir to Tamil Nadu

Mervin Preethi

Water scarcity is a growing challenge, but across India, communities are finding smart ways to conserve every drop. This map takes you through some of the most inspiring efforts—from ancient step wells to modern rainwater harvesting—that are making a real difference in tackling drought and ensuring a sustainable future.

World’s rivers drying up: World Meteorological Organization issues stark climate warning

Euro News

Last year was the driest year for global rivers in 33 years, warns a new report coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). According to the State of Global Water Resources report, the past five years have seen below-normal conditions for river flows and reservoir inflows worldwide, increasing stress on global water supplies.
The annual report paints the big picture of the world’s water cycle, from extreme floods to extreme droughts, from rivers and reservoirs to glaciers and groundwater.

Climate change and adaptive water management: innovative solutions from the global South

Charlotte MacAlister

Climate change is one of the most pressing threats to sustainable development across the globe. The Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2014) notes that 93% of the impacts associated with climate change will be felt in the water sector. Climate change is already altering precipitation patterns and snowmelt, impacting the frequency and magnitude of floods and droughts, and contributing to more extreme weather events and wildfires globally. Availability of renewable surface and groundwater resources is likely to decrease significantly…

If we want to better understand the climate-regulating role of Earth’s oceans, we must increase the effort we put into observing them, with a focus on our planet’s largest heat sink, the Southern Ocean.

Climate change and adaptive water management: innovative solutions from the global south

Charlotte MacAlister

Nigeria’s new blue economy ministry could harness marine resources – moving the focus away from oil

Isa Olalekan Elegbede

Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced a new ministerial portfolio in August: Marine and Blue Economy.

More than 200 scientists from 19 countries want to tell us the Southern Ocean is in trouble

Andrew J Constable

Andrew J Constable, University of Tasmania and Jess Melbourne-Thomas, CSIRO While the Southern Ocean around Antarctica has been warming for decades, the annual extent of winter sea ice seemed relatively stable – compared to the Arctic. In some areas Antarctic sea ice was even increasing. That was until 2016, when

Studying Asian glaciers provides glimpse into future of extremes

Aisling Irwin

High Mountain Asia includes ranges that span the borders of Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, India, China and Pakistan. The rate of glacier melting has doubled here in the last 20 years – except for glaciers in the Karakoram and Kunlun ranges where, since the 1990s, they have been stable or have

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